This fifth and final volume of the joint U.S.–Russian series Space Biology and Medicine is a comprehensive summary of U.S. and Russian cooperation in the fields of space biology and medicine. It summarizes the experience and insights drawn from many years of Russian and American cooperation in the peaceful study and use of outer space.

The first four volumes of this series focused on issues that demonstrate the current state of knowledge about space and the development of rocket and space technologies; about human life support beyond the Earth's biosphere; about the functional and structural changes caused by the effects of space flight on human beings and other biological subjects; and about the strategies and specific ways to provide medical support during space flight.

The fifth volume integrates data from previous research and observations together with scientific materials obtained in recent years on the most important topics in space biology and medicine. It is a fascinating survey of the science, and an encouraging illustration of the benefits of international collaboration.